Dereck was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He attended Thornton Junior High School, Central Hower High School, as well as George Meaney College in Washington, D.C. Dereck has been with the Calhoun Funeral Home family for four years and is a recipient of the Rose Petal Award for Empathy. He is also very proud to be a 32°Mason.

Dereck has been happily married for 22 years and he has seven children. He enjoys weight training, playing golf, and being a jokester. Dereck is also an avid Cleveland Browns fan as well as an L.A. Lakers fan.